Automatic lighter for fire-engines



(NQ Model.)

P. J. HALL & J. H. BSPEY. AUTOMATIG LIGHTER POB. PIRE ENGINES.

No. 559,704. Patented May 5, 1896.

AN DREW a GRAHAM. PNcTo-UYNUWASMNGTGN D C FREDERICK J. llAliL AND JOU)TIl.

EEicE.

PATENT ESPEY, OF ELMIRA, NEWT YORK.

AUTOMATIC LIGHTER FOR FIRE-ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Application filed April 20,1895.

To mit wiwm t may concern.'

lie it known that we, FREDERICK J. HALL and JOHN Il. ESPEY, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Elmira, in the county of Chemung andState of New York, have invented a new and useful Automatic Lighter forFire-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in automatic lighters forlire-engines, dsc.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple, neat, anddurable form of lighting device which shall be applicable to aire-engine of any description or size and which shall operateautomatically to ignite combustible material placed in the nre-box uponthe grate thereof.

i further object of the invention is to construct said lighting devicein such manner that it may be easily and quickly applied to or detachedfrom the rire-engine for the purpose of enabling the same to be changedwith greater facility and obvia-ting the necessity of getting beneaththe fire-box of the engine for the purpose mentioned.

ln order to accomplish the above objects, the invention consists in anovel form of box for containing the igniting chemicals and breaker forsmashing the vials containing said chemicals, in the means forsupporting the same removably beneath the fire-box, in the particularmeans for automatically actuating the breaker and causing it to demolishthe chemical-containing vials, and also in certain other novel featuresand details of construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafterfully described, illustrated in the drawings, and pointed out in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a diagrammaticview showing theoutline of the boiler and coal-pan of a lire-engine and illustrating themanner in which the improved lighting device is applied thereto. Fig. 2is a similar view looking toward the rear of the engine, showing thearrangement of the supporting-rod for the lighting device upon one sideof the center of the coal-pan, whereby the same will be out of the wayof the dumpinggrate- Fig. 3 is a plan view of the holding-box ormetallic case which contains the chemical-holding bottles. Fig. 4 is alongitudinal vertical section through the same,

:Patent N0. 559,704, dated May 5, 1896.

Serial No. 546,488. (No model.)

showing the relative arrangement of the breaker, the perforated shelfwithin the boX, and the cheinical-eontaining bottle. Fig. 5 is a planview of the breaker. Fig. G is a detail view of the adjustable clamp andeye, by means of which the one end of the supporting-rod is upheld.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in theseveral figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, l designates a metallic case or box, whichmay be of any size or material, and is shown, preferably, made in theshape of a square or rectangular box, which is provided in its rear wallwith a slot extending entirely across the same, said slot beingcontinued forwardly through the opposite side walls of said box, asindicated at 2. Arranged within the box at the advance end thereof is ashelf 8, preferably formed integrally with said box and provided withperforations for the reception of two or more bottles containingigniting chemicals. At the rear end the case or boi; is provided with athreaded socket or perforation 4, by means of which the device isattached to the forward threaded end of a longitudinally-extendingsupporting-bar 5, by the aid of which and other devices to be describedthe light ing device is upheld beneath the iirebox of the engine.

6 designates a clamping-loop which is provided at one side with a pairof perforated ears or lugs 7, adapted to receive a clampingbolt 8, bymeans of which said loop is adapted to be clamped firmly to thesupporting-rod 5 and tobe adjusted lengthwise of said rod for thepurpose of changing the position of the lighting device with relation tothe hre-box, as desired. The clamping-loop 5 is formed with an upwardextension S in the form of an eye, which is adapted to engage a pin orhook 9, bolted or otherwise secured to the bottom of the coal-pan orother convenient point on the fire-engine, thus providing for thesupport of the front end of the rod 5. The rear end of said rod isupheld by means of a supporting-plate l0, bolted to the rear of thecoal-pan and provided at its lower end with a yoke or U -shaped iin-nge11, perforated to receive a split-pin l2, which is adapted also to passthrough a perforation in the rod 5,

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this construction preventing the llongitudinal movement and also therotation of the supporting-rod.

13 indicates a dat metal plate which constitutes the breaker, the samebeing -provided at its forward end with perforations 14, correspondingsubstantially in size and number to the perforations in the shelf 3above described. The breaker 13 is rounded off upon its sides, asindicated at 15, and in rear of such rounded portions is increased inwidth to form laterally-projecting flanges 16, which are adapted toengage the slots 2 in the side walls of the case or box 1 for thepurpose of guiding the movements of the breaker therein and forsupporting said breaker in horizontal relation thereto. The breaker isfurther provided with a chain 17, secured to a perforation in the rearend thereof and extending thence rearwardly to a pedestal 18, which hasa central bore, as indicated, through which said chain passes to an eye19, secured to the iioor or base of said pedestal.

In operation the breakeris inserted through the slot in the box or case1, so as to bring the perforations 11i therein into line beneath thecorresponding perforations in the shelf 3. Bottles of thin glass are nowpassed through said perforations, resting upon the bottom of said box.One of these bottles contains, for instance, sulfuric acid, while theother contains pulverized sugar, potassium chlorate, and sulfur. Aquantity of oily waste is placed on the breaker, and the device, as awhole, then placed beneath the engine, as above described. The chain 17being fastened to the fixed pedestal 18, when the engine is drawnforward by the horses said chain becomes taut, which operates thebreaker and demolishes the chemical-containing bottle, after which thebreaker falls to the floor. The contents of the bottles upon breakingcome in contact with the oily waste, thereby igniting the same andsetting lire to the shavings or other combustible material arranged uponthe grate within the lire-box. By reason of the construction describedthe burning waste will be prevented from dropping upon the floor andendangering the building. By reason of the rounded or curved portions 15of the breaker the binding of said breaker within the case or boX willbe prevented in the event ofthe chain pulling at an angle. lVhen not inuse, the chain 17 may be placed within the hollow pedestal 18, when itwill be out 0f the way.

The lighting device described is very simple in construction, easilyattached and dctaehed, rendering it unnecessary for the attendant to getbeneath the engine in order to charge said device, and the same isthoroughly reliable and efficient in practice.

It will be apparent that other chemicals than those named may be usedand that other material may be substituted for the oily waste. It willalso be apparent that various changes in the form, proportion, and theminor details of construction may be resorted to without departing fromthe principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. In an automatic lighter for lire-engines. a slotted box or case, aperforated shelf therein for engaging chemical-containing bottles andmeans for supporting said box beneath the grate of the fire-engine, incombination with a sliding and separable breaker provided withperforations for embracing and engaging said bottles and also providedwith laterally-projecting flanges or edges resting in the slots in saidbox or case, and also provided with rounded corners, as described, andmeans for automatically withdrawing said breaker. for the purpose andsubstantially as speciiicd.

2. In an automatic lighter for lire-engines. a slotted box or caseadapted to receive a quantity of iniiammable material, aninternally-arranged shelf having an opening for holding achemical-containing vial, a slidin breaker operating through the slot insaid box er case and having an opening in alinement with the opening inthe shelf whereby it is adapted to embrace the said vial, means forremovably supporting said box or case beneath the engine-grate, and aiiexible conneetion between said breaker and a iixed point whereby thebreaker is withdrawn from said box or case in the forward movement eithe engine, substantially as specified.

3. An automatic lighter for fire-engines comprising a box or case, aperforated shell' or rack therein .for holding chemical-containingbot-tles, a sliding perforated breaker embracing said bottles, a chainconnecting said breaker with a fixed support, and ahorizontally-disposed rod for supporting said box or case, said rodAcarrying the box or case and bein g removably secured to the bottom ofthe engine, substantially as described.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have heretoaffixed our si gnatu res in the presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK J. HALL. JOHN II. ESPEY.

IVitnesses:

G. O. NVILDER, CHAs. B. WESTBRooK.

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